Travel documents

Transport companies, such as airlines, must make sure you have proper, valid travel documents when you enter Canada. If you do not have the proper documents, you may be delayed or unable to board the plane.

The following travel documents are not considered reliable. You cannot use them to enter Canada:

passports supposedly issued by Somalia,

non-machine readable passports issued by the Czech Republic,

temporary passports issued by the Republic of South Africa and

provisional passports issued by Venezuela.

This list can change. Check it regularly for up-to-date information.

Visas and exemptions

You might need a temporary resident (visitor) visa to visit Canada, depending on your citizenship. Even if you do not need a visa, read the following. It includes important information you need to know before you plan your trip.

Carry proper travel documents and identification

While you may not need a visa to visit or transit Canada, you still need to:

Show an immigration officer that you satisfy all other requirements to enter Canada. For instance, you may need a medical exam before arriving. If you do not meet all the requirements, you may not be allowed to enter.

To find out what else you may need to know before you come to Canada, See Arriving in Canada.

Inadmissibility

Some people are inadmissible—they are not allowed to come to Canada. Several things can make you inadmissible, including involvement in criminal activity, in human rights violations or in organized crime.